§ Mr. GalbraithTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to ensure that prescriptions for erythropoietin are not affected by any health board overspend on their drug budgets.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 18 January 1991]: Health boards are responsible for ensuring that patients receive proper and sufficient treatment according to clinical judgment and hospital funding is formulated taking into account the cost of providing drugs. There are therefore no financial reasons why Erythropoietin cannot be prescribed.